2001 Mazda RX7

The zoom-zoom brand’s prescription for corner-carving vigor

Although it sold in the U.S. for just three short years, the third-generation Mazda RX-7 is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese sports cars of the ‘90s, if not all time. Also known as the FD, the third-gen boasts the same fundamental performance attributes as the first two generations, with world-class handling, a feathery curb weight, and zero reciprocating pistons. However, the FD improves upon the original with a double helping of turbocharged Wankel power, plus one of the sexiest bodies ever produced in the Land of the Rising Sun, and as a result, it’s nothing less than a four-wheeled superstar.

Unsurprisingly, the FD has enjoyed success in a variety of motorsports, including endurance racing, touring cars, rally racing, and in particular, drifting. Its legendary capabilities on the race track have even extended into the realm of fiction, with a slew of appearances throughout automotive pop culture, from movies, to manga, to video games.

Fans of the FD are an enthusiastic bunch, exhibiting an almost fanatical devotion to the eccentricities of this rotary-powered icon. But why? What exactly makes it so incredibly good? Read on for the details.

Latest Mazda RX7 news and reviews:

The return of rotary engines in Mazda’s stable has been a constant rumor ever since the last Mazda RX-8 left the factory what seems like an eternity ago. The Japanese manufacturer acknowledges this and, now, with the introduction of the Skyactiv-X engine in the new Mazda3, we might finally see the Wankel technology return in a modern guise.

Mazda unveiled the new Mazda Mazda3 at the L.A. Auto Show this week and it’s a looker, there’s no doubt about. It gets better when you realize that it also features some neat technology in the form of the Skyactiv-X engine which attempts to replicate the way diesel engines work with a gas engine. This new technology might be the gateway to a return of the rotary engine. We already know Mazda plans to bring the Wankel back and use it as a range extender for some of its hybrid cars in the future but we’re hoping for more, we’re hoping for a new RX, and this might be the way to get it.

After many years of rumors, Mazda has finally confirmed that the beloved RX-7 will get a successor by the end of the decade. The confirmation came at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, where the Japanese brand unveiled the RX-VISION, a front-engined, RWD concept that sports an aggressive interpretation of Mazda’s KODO design language. What’s more, the company also confirmed it will have a new-generation rotary engine under the hood.

Mazda didn’t say when the production car will arrive in showrooms, but it seems that the next-gen RX-7’s development depends on how fast the engineers can come up with a reliable and fuel-efficient Wankel powerplant. More details should become available in 2016, but until that happens, we created a rendering of the production vehicle, as well as a speculative review about what the next-gen RX-7 might bring to the table.

Update 12/07/2017: Mazda has been caught testing the next-gen Wankel engine. Unfortunately, it was being testing in an older RX-8 shell instead of a full-body prototype of the next-gen RX-7, but it’ll do for now. The good news is that it is practically confirmation that a next-gen RX is, indeed, on the way. Check out our spy shots section below to see the RX-8 prototype with the next-gen Wankel and to hear what we know.

Arguably one of Mazda’s most important models ever, the RX-7 offered a unique combination of low weight, sexy good looks, impeccable handling, and a funky engine configuration. Indeed, from anime to Hollywood movies, this superstar of the zoom zoom has cemented a bona-fide cult following for itself, and enthusiasts across the globe have been busy scooping up examples to get a taste of that Japanese-bred Wankel goodness. And just in case you’re drawing a blank on any of this, we found this seven-and-a-half minute explainer on everything you need to know about the RX-7, courtesy of our friends at Donut Media.

The video begins with a little background on the rotary engine, including the basics on how it works and where it came from. The video then dives into the model history, including the genesis of all things RX, the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110 from 1967. Other things of note include lots of the love for pop-up headlights, racing highlights, and quick scenes from an endless number of TV shows and Internet memes. All told, it’s a fun, relatively fast watch filled with info and loads of entertaining edits.

When you get right down to it, Mazda’s lineup is just begging for a new RX. Never mind the demands from the fan boys – here we have an automaker that infuses each and every model its got with a little “zoom-zoom” magic, from its sedans to its SUVs. At the moment, the sportiest Mazda on the market is the MX-5, one of the most epic compact drop-tops that money can buy. But in an age of four-figure hypercars, the 155-horse MX-5 can’t always cut the mustard, no matter how well it handles. What Mazda needs now is something bigger, faster, and more powerful, a coupe with the soul of the Miata, but the beating heart of a high-end performance machine. Something like, I dunno, a new RX? Welp, rumor has it that’s exactly what we might get in October at the Tokyo Motor Show, with an on-sale date sometime in 2019.

That’s the news from our friends over at Motor 1, who cite “several Web sites in Asia” claiming Mazda might introduce a new generation of its rotary sports car this year. Of course, Motor 1 is quick to point out that the rumors are flimsy at best, and to take them with an appropriately sized grain of salt. But hey, hope springs eternal, especially amongst RX fans, so read on for some of the juicy details.

Among the most famous wins in motorsports history is Mazda’s 1991 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 1991 Mazda 787B racecar claimed the first, and still only win for a Japanese manufacturer at Le Mans, as well as the only win from a car with a rotary engine. But there was another car that paved the way for the 787B, another rotary-engined car that won a 24-hour endurance race a full decade before Mazda’s win at Le Mans, and that car is an RX-7 belonging to Tom Walkinshaw Racing.

In 1981, the RX-7 was still a pretty new car, having only just debuted in 1979. It wasn’t completely new to motorsports, and had even grabbed a class win at the 1979 24 Hours of Daytona, similar to the kind of success enjoyed by earlier Mazda rotary racing cars. But in 1980, Mazda and Tom Walkinshaw entered the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps. It wasn’t an impressive year for the RX-7s at Spa, but the lessons learned were put to good use, and in 1981, TWR grabbed an overall win at Spa, finally providing really solid evidence of the performance potential of the Wankel rotary engine.
Continue reading to learn more about the 1981 Mazda RX-7 TWR Race Car.

After it made the decision to end the RX-8’s production back in 2011, Mazda has been left without a single model to feature rotary power, but various reports seem to suggest that the Japanese carmaker still considers this type of engine viable for a future sequel to the RX-7. The latest rumor supporting this statement comes from Autocar, who recently had a word with Kenichiro Saruwatari, vice-president of European R&D at Mazda.

According to Saruwatari, Mazda still keeps a department of 30 engineers developing rotary engine projects, and suggested that they may be also working on a model to be unveiled in 2020, when the carmaker will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Naturally you should take this information with a grain of salt, as a rotary-powered RX-7 successor is mostly speculative by Autocar. Since the skunworks rotary team is limited in number of engineers, Mazda is actively employing the services of Japanese universities, while none other than NASA is apparently its partner in terms of material technologies.

Some Mazda purists may remember that the material used on the tips of the RX-8’s engine "pistons" was actually specified by NASA. According to Autocar’s speculation on the matter, the future rotary-powered Mazda is likely to employ either the RX-7 or the RX-6 moniker, in order to indicate a smaller, lightweight, two-seater likely positioned slightly above the Toyobaru segment of sports cars.

Mazda has been without a rotary-powered car in its lineup since the RX-8 ceased production in 2012, According to Australian site Motoring, however, we could see not one, but two new rotary-powered models by the end of the decade in the form of a new RX-7 in 2017 and an all new model called the RX-9 in 2020.

Further fueling the speculation, Mazda has registered both names at a patent office near the company’s headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan.

“We want to surprise everyone in 2017 with something special to celebrate the birth of rotary," a Mazda executive told Motoring. "Then, to celebrate the company’s 100th birthday, we want to take it to another level in 2020."

Mazda aficionados might know that the “birth of the rotary” he refers to is the Mazda Cosmo, Mazda’s first rotary-powered car, which debuted in 1967. A new rotary-powered concept in 2017 would correspond nicely with the 50-year anniversary of the Cosmos. Like the original, the 2017 RX-7 will be sporty, compact coupe that uses evolved styling queues from in the recently debuted MX-5. Motoring goes on to suggest the RX-7 will debut as a concept that previews a production version called the RX-9, slated to arrive in 2020.

Click past the jump to read more about the future Mazda RX-7 and RX-9.

According to new from Autoweek, it appears Mazda has a new RX-7 in the works with plans to power it with the famous Wankel-type rotary engine. Although it’s not fully signed off on yet, the Japanese automaker is working on the preliminary designs as you read this.

The overall design seems to hinge on one major aspect: lightweight. It is said the new RX-7 will share its platform and underpinnings with the all-new MX-5 set to debut at next year’s Chicago Auto Show. With a targeted curb weight of only 2,400 pounds, the MX-5 will be a featherweight. Comparatively, the RX-7 is said to be slightly larger, yet only weighing 2,800 pounds.

Rumors surrounding the powertrain reveal some uncertainty within Mazda’s engineering department. It’s unclear if a twin- or triple-rotor setup will be used, but according to one source, it’s likely to remain a twin-rotor setup. Displacement is said to be roughly 600cc per rotor, making the twin-rotor design a 1.2-liter engine. Targeted output levels are said to be 250 horsepower.

It appears Mazda has penciled the RX-7 for a 2015 or 2016 launch date with an expected price of around $30,000. That price lands the RX-7 smack between the more expensive Porsche Cayman and the less expensive Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S twins.

An interesting tid-bit of notoriety: Mazda’s chief designer is Ikuo Maeda, the son of the original RX-7’s designer. Though his family blood runs through the car, he says it will not be a retro design, nor will it feature too many of Mazda’s current design language.

It’s been just a little over a month since GRID 2 hit shelves and the racing game has turned out to be a rather enjoyable diversion from our everyday lives.

It still doesn’t hold up to Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsports, but it’s the newest racing game out these days and as such, deserves our full attention. But if there’s one thing about the game that disappoints us, it’s the relative lack of some spicy aftermarket racecars; a problem that Codemasters addressed with the release of a new DLC, called the Super Modified Pack.

As the name evidently suggests, the Super Modified Pack will feature four beastly racecars, including an 890-horsepower R32 Skyline GT-R, a 5ZIGEN Honda Civic Super Modified, and fully customized takes on the Subaru Impresa WRX STI and Mazda RX-7.

That’s four belligerently powerful custom-tuned Japanese racecars that could be yours for $5.99 on Playstation 3 or 480 Microsoft Points (around $6) on the Xbox 360.

Sounds like a good deal to us.

Click past the jump to watch the other DLC pack that are offered on GRID 2

We haven’t heard any details on a possible Mazda RX-7 successor for quite some time now, but new details have surfaced on the internet suggesting that such a rotary-powered successor to the RX-7 could be offered as a competitor for the next generation Nissan Z.

The new RX-7 will sit atop the current Mazda lineup and, unlike the RX-8, it will not come as a four-door coupe. It will, however, again come in the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.

Rumored to be called RX-9, the new sports car will likely be powered by a new rotary engine developed by the company and is set to be put into production within the next five years. This RX-9 will likely
be initially offered in naturally aspired version, but a turbocharged version is also a possibility.

According to Mazda officials, a final decision hasn’t been made just yet because the company wants to investigate the economic situation before deciding if to offer the new sports car or not.

The RX-7 was one of the coolest sports cars produced by Mazda from 1978 to 2002. It was then replaced by the RX-8 - a model that did not experience the same kind of love as did the RX-7.

Skipping right past the one that may have been better left on the drawing board, Mazda has decided to bring back the RX-7 in 2017, marking 50 years since the introduction of Mazda’s first rotary-engined car, the Cosmo Sport.
This same year will also mark 15 years since the RX-7 was dropped from the line.

According to Mazda Motor Corporation’s Sports Car Chief Nobuhiro Yamamoto, the new generation RX-7 will be lighter, less complex, and will deliver a greater emphasis on driver involvement. However, he also said that the new RX-7 won’t exactly follow the lead of the previous RX-7.
It will be built on the same platform as the next-generation MX-5, but will feature a a stretched wheelbase to accommodate a pair of small rear seats.

The new RX-7 will most likely be powered by a naturally-aspirated version of the new 16X rotary engine with an output of about 300 HP. A turbo version is also a possibility, but will occur later in the RX-7’s life.

As for the price tag, Mazda hopes to keep it somewhere in the same area of the Nissan 370Z, which starts off at about $33,000.

When the RX-7 hit near supercar status in the 1990s, the Rotary engine was a thing of beauty and Mazda had all but perfected it. The only remaining downfall was the fuel required to keep the rotors inside the engine spinning. This fuel consumption, plus a restructuring of Mazda’s U.S. market, led to the deletion of the RX-7 and its perfected rotary following the 1995 model year.

When the rotary engine made its way into the sexy, yet fairly flabby, RX-8 in 2004, the rotary enthusiast clamored over its 238 horsepower without any turbo.
However, hiding in deep within the engine was its biggest sore spot, a puny 159 pound-feet of torque that sucked up a gallon of gas after only about a dozen miles. Through the RX-8’s life, Mazda refused to turbocharge the 1.3-liter rotary and the new Renesis rotary engine was effectively to blame for the RX-8’s disappearance following the 2011 model year.

This all brings us to today, as Mazda finally closes the chapter on the RX-8 by rolling the final rotary engine off of its production line and into a special edition Mazda Spirit R, which is only available in Japan. This closes one chapter in the life of the rotary engine, as Mazda has no plans to develop a replacement for the failed RX-8, despite rumors of an RX-9.

Even if the rotary is to make a comeback in the future, it will likely not come back as a gasoline engine. We would likely see it used in a gasoline/hydrogen hybrid system, as Bloomberg is reporting that Mazda is currently testing out how this Wankel works on hydrogen.

As much as we once loved the rotary engine, we think it is time to put this old dog down and let us remember the good old days of the 255-horsepower, 217 pound-feet of torque twin-boosted 1.3-liter rotary. The only way we could agree with bringing the rotary back is in a turbocharged sports car platform, like this engine is intended.

When Mazda first introduced its Wenkel engine in 1961, the automotive world was set alight it.
Soon after, many manufacturers clamored to build their own. This engine was an automotive Gibraltar, no matter the challenges it faced, the Wenkel soldiered on. These challenges came from every angle from new emissions standards in 1970 to an oil crisis three years later, in addition to innumerable engineering issues. Mazda cultivated their Wenkel engine and planted it in their sporty RX-7 and it was an instant hit. Even when the RX-8 emerged as a successor to the RX-7 in 2001, the Wenkel heart beat on. Now as the RX-8’s production run is scheduled to end in 2011, a steady stream of rumors about the current Wenkel engine’s successor have flown past our desks.

First, we are going to ask all Mazda fans to take a deep breath. Okay, now that that is taken care of, we have some bad news according to Ward’s Auto Mazda is considering putting the new engine development on hold. The reason for this cutback was that at this time of economic woe, Mazda was looking for a way to reduce expenses and apparently this new engine program is very expensive.

We hope that even as the bean counters are clamoring about diminishing profit margins, Mazda continues to develop this engine. It provides the RX-8 and it’s successor with fantastic high performance and, in the era of pretty and almost all identical cars, Mazda offered a unique take on a sports car.
We all hope that Mazda comes to their senses and keeps this iconic power plant.

The fact that Mazda is well into their plans to terminate the current RX-8 sports car is common knowledge at this point.
However, if eliminating their only rotary-powered vehicle is in the works, why is the company still working on their Wankel engine?

There are whispers fluttering around that Mazda may be working on a new sports car model with the help of none other than Audi.
Audi just released their A1 hatchback-based e-tron concept, which features a 254cc Wankel range-extender located beneath the trunk floor, so these latest rumors suggest that the two will be getting into bed together on a new rotary sports car featuring similar technology.

Mazda’s next sports car was originally thought to be the RX-9, but recent news has gotten people thinking that Mazda may be working on a successor to the RX-7 instead.
Whichever model they choose to roll with, Inside Line is reporting that Mazda’s next rotary sports car will hopefully achieve just 130 g/km of CO2 compared to the 299 g/km of the current RX-8.
Other features of the new sports car may include micro-hybrid technology, auto stop/start, lightweight materials, and laser ignition - which eliminates the use of spark plugs, ultimately making it easier to seal the Wankel’s trochoidal combustion chamber for improved efficiency and reduced hydrocarbon emissions.

Now that the clock has finally run out and just hours away from the first showing of Fast Five - the fifth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise - we felt like it’s the right time to give proper respect to the characters that have made this movie franchise as fun as it has been since the first movie came out in 2001.

And if you think that we’re talking about resident leading men, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, guess again. This list has very little to do with them, or their other co-stars for that matter, but more so about what they were driving during the first four movies.
Yes, dear friends. This is a list to honor the Top 10 cars of the Fast and Furious franchise!

Do take note that we compiled this list based on our opinions so if you have any sort of reaction on the cars we chose and the number we gave them, you have the floor in the comments section to let us hear about it.

Garage Revolution has prepared a very cool Mazda RX-7 for the World Time Attack Challenge. Their RX-7 is powered by a 13B turbo engine that has received a 50mm exhaust manifold, 80mm front pipe, 80mm full titanium exhaust, custom airbox, custom cooling ducts for turbine, MoTeC M2R ECU and boost control solenoid. The result is an impressive 600 HP and with a total weight of 2204 lbs you can only imagine the level of performance it will deliver.

What happens when you put Kawasaki ZX10 against Jim Guthrie and his Corvette-powered Mazda RX-7 drift machine? The answer is as simple as possible: greatest show ever! And by the way, ZX10 piloted by Nicj Brocha. And if we are talking about a drift battle even better!

We don’t know about you, but we watch this video over and over again and we can not decided which one do we prefer better: the moto or the car. So, conclusion, we’ll take both. They seem to be equally fun to drive and they both drift impressive. And now imagine this: the RX-7 is no doubt an impressive car. Now put under the hood a Corvette engine and imagine what it could no next! All we need next is a race track and the two one next to each other!

If rumors are to be trusted then Mazda may be unveiling a successor for the RX-7 sports car in 2013.
Inside sources have told Autocar that the car will be called the RX-9 and will retain the rotary Renesis technology employed by its predecessors and the RX-8.

With the next RX-7, Mazda will focus on improving fuel consumption and torque required to keep pace with rivals like the VW Scirocco.
A Mazda source said: "We’re testing the rotary in conjunction with technologies including an electric turbocharger."

The next generation RX-7 will be powered by Mazda’s all new Renesis 16X power plant which debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show inside of the Taiki concept car. The Renesis(2) rotary engine is a 1.6 Liter twin rotor motor that will develop a maximum output of 350 HP and 215 lb-ft of torque.

The RX-9’s design language will be inspired by the Nagare design language, which is inspired by nature — in particular, wind and flowing water.

As a few people may have known, the Mazda RX-8 is not a very successful model and Mazda decided to drop it.
The Japanese company has decided that it will bring back the RX-7 to fill the unfulfilling void the RX-8 will leave behind.

According to the British magazine, AutoCar, Mazda is preparing a new rotary engine that can run on petrol or diesel.
It is a two-stroke 16X engine that in its current state develops a total of 300bhp and sprints the car from 0 to 60mph in under five seconds.

The next RX-7 is already under testings and it seems that Mazda’s R&D department has invited several external drivers and racers to try it out.

As a reminder, the new RX-7 will be an affordable, user-friendly sports car with a reasonable price tag of $30,000USD.

Chief Designer for Mazda, Ikuo Maeda has some feelings about the revival of the RX-7.

"I do have a strong yearning to revive the RX-7 during my tenure," Maeda said. "But in order for that to happen, we need the U.S. economy to come back, first and foremost."

Well, gee, thanks Maeda.
We’re glad to know that you are thinking of our well-being. Oh wait, probably not.
Well at least we might get the opportunity to see a revival of the RX-7 featuring a 16X rotary engine in the near future.
But don’t expect a high-powered sports car.
Mazda is still experimenting with forced induction so we probably won’t see that in the first batch of this much anticipated comeback.
Sources say that the new RX-7 will be an affordable, user-friendly sports car with a reasonable price tag of $30,000USD.

This shouldn’t be the first time that you’ve heard about Mazda bringing back the RX-7.
However this time the news seems to be official, and even the current economic climate won’t stop the Japanese automaker from unveiling the new sports car in 2011 as a replacement for the not so successful RX-8.
All three previous generations of Mazda’s rotary experimental 7 have been bona fide sports cars that offer their operators a lightweight chassis with razor sharp handling and the exhilaration of rear wheel drive that culminated with the FD3S and despite being down a few ponies from the competition, it made genuine Japanese super cars like the Skyline GT-R and NSX head for the hills.

The next generation RX-7 will be powered by Mazda’s all new Renesis 16X power plant which debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show inside of the Taiki concept car.
The Renesis(2) rotary engine is a 1.6 Liter twin rotor motor that will develop a maximum output of 350 HP and 215 lb-ft of torque.
The new RX-7’s exterior will be inspired by the Furai concept and will go head to head with other sport compacts like the HyundaiGenesis Coupe and eventual Toyota FT-86 as well as Japanese thoroughbreds like the Nissan 370Z.
If you were excited by the muscle car market coming back into full swing you might want save a little bit of emotion for the return of the sport compact tuning scene.

This is definitely not the first time that we have heard about a rebirth of the greatest Rotary Experimental model that the Japanese automaker Mazda has ever produced and we hope that it won’t be the last.
It turns out that the Zoom-Zoom brand has been preparing a successor for their current rotary powered RX-8 sports car, and while some might say that the next evolution should wear an RX-9 badge, we are happy to hear that Mazda is considering to bring back the RX-7 moniker that was used from the beginning in 1978 all the way up until the 13B powered twin turbocharged FD3S was forced out of production in 2002.

This is definitely something to look forward to, because if Mazda can get the RX-7 formula right again then we are in for a real treat.
It was never the biggest or the most powerful of the super cars that cme out of Japan in the 1990s, but its spirited engine and nimble lightweight nature made it a threat to anything on the road.
Just like the last generation model, the upcoming RX-7 will be a two seater sports car powered by a boosted rotary engine.
If you think that a high revving twin rotor motor sounds like fun, then you ought to know that there is talks of using the same 1.6 Liter Renesis 16X Wankel design that was used in the 2007 Taiki concept, delivering an even 300 HP.
The production version is expected to debut in 2011, however we expect to see a concept version a bit sooner.

Mazda was on to something when they combined a compact rear wheel drive platform with a lightweight racing inspired power plant to create the first Rotary Experimental model for the Japanese automaker.
Through three generations of RX-7, the sports car has proven itself to be a show winner as well as track day competitor.
It was the second generation FC3S RX-7 that introduced rotary enthusiasts to boost and took the agile Mazda to the next level with the RX-7 Turbo II.
However it wasn’t until 1992 when the automaker from Hiroshima launched the last RX-7 that we have all come to know and admire.
With its round sculpted arches and twin turbocharged 13B power plant making 265 HP, the FD (as it is known) was capable of running with super cars well beyond its output and price.

Mazda stopped importing RX-7s into the U.S. in 1995, ever since then, sports car enthusiasts have been awaiting the return of the Mazda RX-7, especially since the turbocharged rotary powered rocket ship disappeared from the world market in 2002.
Well there is good news because it looks like the rumors are coming true, and a 21st century RX-7 will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This rendering shows a vehicle that has been heavily influenced by the company’s Nagare design language, except that an RX-7, by its nature, must go one step beyond any of the Mazda’s recent concepts.
The production version of the RX-8’s successor will not make an appearance until the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show and will feature Mazda’s new rotary engine.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard rumors about a new Mazda RX-7.
Just like the BMW M7 rendering, we don’t expect one either.
But if the folks at Motor Magazine in Japan are going to take the time to put together a rendering, we’re more than happy to get caught in the daydream.

Unless you’re a big Mazda fan, you’ve probably not heard of Re-Amemiya.
The Japanese tuner with at peculiar name is a particular fan of Mazda’s rotary engines.

When it came time to present a car for the Toyko Auto Salon, Re-Amemiya created the Genki 7, based on the Mazda RX-7.
We have no explanation why Re-Amemiya chose to base its streamline car on a seven-year-old design as opposed to a modern RX-8, but it still looks cool enough for us not to wonder too much.

Mazda will launch a new RX-7 in 2012. The car is a must considering the Japanese market will be full of high performance cars in the near future and Mazda really needs one if it want to survive on the market.

The 2012 RX-7 (FE model perhaps) will be powered by the all-new 16X rotary engine; an evolution of the award-winning Renesis 13B found in the RX-8. Armed with a revised eccentric shaft producing more low-end torque—the blatant absence of which has been a common complaint about the RX-8 —and likely some form of forced induction, it’s sure to insert a dose of bees up the collective bonnets of the competition.

Add to that the usual bevy of make-believe insider information such as a curb weight under 1500kg, a usable 2+2 seating setup, and a price tag under US$30k!

The Mazda RX-7 will be based on the Taiki concept unveiled this year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The replacement for the model produced until 1996 in Europe and 2003 in Japan will be unveiled within two or three years.

Mazda will unveil at the Tokyo Auto Show the RX-7 Coupe, a concept with design cues inspired by the Kabura and Ryuga, as well as other Mazda DNA. The RX-7 will be the first Mazda Rotary Coupe since the third-generation RX-7 launched in 1991.

Today at TopSpeed we will learn how to park a car in a tree. The lesson is not that hard, you just need to speed with 70 mph in a curve. You don’t believe me is that easy. Well, this is how a guy from Kent, Wash. did it.
He was driving with 70 mph, he entered a curve and lost control of his red Mazda RX-7. The result is a really nice parking in a tree, quite incredible actully, because the car is
in a nearly vertical position against the tree.
Witnesses said if not for the tree, the car (...)

At Barcelona Tuning Show, Maxi Tuning presents the Mazda RX-7 Carbono, a special prototype designed for the Need For Speed Carnon.
The car seems to be removed from cartoons on races or, better, from video-games. The spectacular Mazda RX-Carbon features a very special finishing.

Although it sold in the U.S. for just three short years, the third-generation Mazda RX-7 is widely regarded as one of the best Japanese sports cars of the ‘90s, if not all time. Also known as the FD, the third-gen boasts the same fundamental performance attributes as the first two generations, with world-class handling, a feathery curb weight, and zero reciprocating pistons. However, the FD improves upon the original with a double helping of turbocharged Wankel power, plus one of the sexiest bodies ever produced in the Land of the Rising Sun, and as a result, it’s nothing less than a four-wheeled superstar.

Unsurprisingly, the FD has enjoyed success in a variety of motorsports, including endurance racing, touring cars, rally racing, and in particular, drifting. Its legendary capabilities on the race track have even extended into the realm of fiction, with a slew of appearances throughout automotive pop culture, from movies, to manga, to video games.

Fans of the FD are an enthusiastic bunch, exhibiting an almost fanatical devotion to the eccentricities of this rotary-powered icon. But why? What exactly makes it so incredibly good? Read on for the details.